Rose-Ellen Carmichael Roy, otherwise known as Zell, has spent the past year in limbo since her husband, Nick, died while on a post-Katrina relief mission in New Orleans. She spends her time alone with Ahab, their dog, and doing her work as a freelance artist drawing medical illustrations.

Something in her starts to move when she sees a contest in a cooking magazine with the prize being the same amount as what her late husband wanted to raise to help out New Orleans. Zell's new next door neighbor’s nine year old daughter, Ingrid, is a bustling whirlwind that takes a liking to Zell.

Together these two, through mishaps and mistakes, are trying to win a contest each for their own reasons. With the help of friends, the journey they take is a lesson in love, loss, and friendship.

What a wonderful story about life and all it has to offer, both good and bad, the lessons we all must go through, and the relationships we forge along the way. Ms.Bessette has given her characters a three-dimensional dialogue that will excite readers with the humor and kindheartedness tossed in the read. This is definitely a read to share with a friend.